Somerset County to Host 'Exploring New Jersey’s Climate Variability and Change'

From the The Reitman Group: Staff at the Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center (EEC) have invited Dr. David Robinson, New Jersey State Climatologist and Rutgers University professor to present “Exploring New Jersey’s Climate Variability and Change.”

With New Jersey experiencing what is considered the wettest and warmest weather in 120 years of observation, combined with an abundance of extreme weather events, Dr. Robinson’s timely lecture will address the state’s current climate, what may lie ahead, and the impact on the citizens of New Jersey. He will discuss his interpretation of the trends in our climate based on analysis of data from across the state, including the EEC weather station.

The presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. The EEC is located at 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Admission is free and registration is not required. For information call 908-766-2489.

The EEC is nestled within the western portion of the Great Swamp and borders the 7,768-acre Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. The wide variety of habitats includes: floodplains, swamps, rivers, intermittent streams, marshes, meadows, fields, forests, and natural and man-made ponds providing homes for diverse plant and animal populations in this environmentally sensitive park.

The multi-faceted EEC building is located on 500+ acres of Lord Stirling Park. The facility features 8.5 miles of trails and boardwalks, a year-round schedule of programs and exhibits for children and adults, an environmentally-based library, and gift shop.

“The Great Swamp Experience” features interactive displays, vignettes, taxidermy, and archeological artifacts highlighting the history and ecology of the Great Swamp. Open 7 days a week from 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., visiting children can crawl into a beaver lodge, feel animal fur, or explore the toddler area. For adults, habitat vignettes share educational content of the flora and fauna found in the swamp’s river, meadows, ponds, marshes, and forests. Historical exhibits include information about the Wisconsin Glacier, mastodon bones, Paleo-Indians, and Lord Stirling. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about hydrology, sustainability, and the park’s geographic location. Admission is free.

The Environmental Education Center is open seven days each week. Call 908- 766-2489 for schedule updates.

Information on Somerset County Park Commission activities and programs visit here. or call 908-722-1200.

Click here to see this event on the Patch Calendar.

Image via the The Reitman Group: “Exploring New Jersey’s Climate Variability and Change” will be presented at the Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road in Basking Ridge, New Jersey on Thursday, March 9, 2017.